The Rangers saw their road (nine) and overall (five) win streak come to crashing end Friday night with a 5-2 loss to the Flyers. That defeat was the least of their problems, as Chris Kreider suffered a fractured left foot blocking a shot that will sideline the power forward indefinitely. New York gets a quick chance at retribution Sunday at noon at MSG.

Game recap:


A few thoughts:
1) Playing their third game in four nights, the Blueshirts looked gassed. Couple that with the loss of Kreider and not a big surprise the team had a let down. Give Philly credit, they took the contest to New York, especially their top forwards, with the Rangers a step slow most of the night. The Flyers are now second in the Metro, riding those forwards and the fine play of Carter Hart, who is back between the pipes Sunday.

2) Hard to overstate how devastating it its to lose Kreider. The K-Z-B line, and especially the K-Z along with Panarin and Strome, have been major reasons for the team's resurgence. The injury, see below, removes a key weapon and power forward up front. Despite not scorirg the past five games, including Friday, Kreider was still on pace to set a new a career-high in goals, assists and points, as he had 24 tallies and 21 apples in 63 games.

The Rangers have announced that Chris Kreider sustained a fractured foot – here's where he blocked Philippe Myers in the first period, and left the game shortly after #NYR pic.twitter.com/titkzQVXQ2

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 29, 2020

3) Without Kreider, now what. New York used two of their four post trade deadline moves in promoting Brett Howden and Julien Gauthier after "sending them down: Monday to make them AHL playoff eligible. Plus, they can't make an emergency call up if they have 20 healthy players, and right now with Shesterkin, they have 21 players. 

Vinni Lettieri, who scored his 25th goal Friday, Vitali Kravtsov and Boo Nieves, all possible call ups, each played Saturday for Hartford. Same for Steven Fogarty and Matt Beleskey with most of those names bottom-six, fourth line options. This means Greg McKegg, scratched Friday, will be in the lineup Sunday as the 12th forward, and New York still has their two moves. Another loss Sunday and that could change. I would try Kravtsov but of could see Lettieri getting the nod. 

What could the lines look like? Maybe Kaapo Kakko is moved back up to the top line. Perhaps Gauthier gets his shot. Coach David Quinn might try Phil Di Giuseppe there. I would not place Artemi Panarin on the top line, preferring to keep the balance that exists now. As Quinn said Friday night, “We lost Mika for a long stretch of time and we went [8-4-1]. So we’ve proven we can overcome losing one of our top players, and we’re going to have to do it again.”

Lines I would go with tomorrow:
Buch Zibanejad Kakko
Panarin Strome Fast
Howden Chytil DiGuiseppe
Lemieux McKegg Gauthier

The fourth line, with Howden at center, was fairly effective Friday, which is why Lemieux and Gauthier stay together joined by McKegg. Kakko has shown occasional signs of breaking out lately, so give him the first shot. If he falters, maybe go with Gauthier and see if the line placement brings him up a step in his game. Quinn will have to mix-and-match, double-shifting Panarin on occasion. 

Update as of 10:30am Sunday:

Lundqvist in goal today vs. Flyers. Di Giuseppe will get first crack with Zibanejad and Buchnevich, but it could be fluid depending on how the game goes. McKegg back in.

— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) March 1, 2020

4) Alexandar Georgiev wasn't bad Friday just not at the level he was the prior two games replacing the injured Igor Shesterkin. It's time to go back to Henrik Lundqvist. Hank has not played since a brief relief appearance on February 11. Since the calendar turned to 2020, Lundqvist has made just three starts, the last of which came a month ago on March 1.

Lundqvist is a proud athlete. New York will need sterling efforts between the pipes to win games, especially with Kreider out. Hank has a chance to carry the team as he did in the past with Shesterkin out at least a few more weeks. This is the perfect storm for Lundqvist to show and raise his value and also regain his former post between the pipes on a permanent basis, at least in the short term. Rescue the Rangers, help lead them to the playoffs again, and quiet the naysayers and haters. Falter, and well, you know the rest.

5) Playoff race - even with the loss Friday, New York remained tied with Carolina, two points behind Columbus for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, because all three lost Friday.

Saturday, the Islanders lost in regulation to the Bruins while the Hurricanes picked up a point losing in overtime to the Canadiens. The Maple Leafs won, solidifying their hold on third in the Atlantic Division. 

Toronto - 78 points  - 66 games

Philly - 81 points - 64 games
Pittsburgh - 80 points - 63 games
Islanders - 78 points - 64 games
Columbus  - 76 points - 66 games

Carolina - 75 points - 64 games
Rangers - 74 points - 64 games
Florida - 73 points - 65 games

Settle in boys, we are still in the playoff hunt.

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